Atiku loses big in hometown as supporters dump ADC for NDC, declare loyalty to Binani
By Mohammed Ismail
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has suffered a significant political blow in his hometown of Jada Local Government Area, Adamawa State, following the mass defection of hundreds of aggrieved supporters from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to the National Democratic Congress (NDC), in a dramatic realignment that underscores deepening cracks within the opposition coalition in the state.
In one of the most symbolic setbacks for Atiku since the formation of the coalition platform, the defectors openly declared their loyalty to former Adamawa governorship candidate, Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed Binani, whose growing political influence continues to reshape Adamawa’s opposition landscape.
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The development is widely seen as a direct reflection of the prolonged political intrigues, internal wrangling, and leadership crisis that have engulfed the ADC in Adamawa since the coalition was formed to challenge the ruling APC ahead of 2027.
The coalition which was recieved in Adamawa amidst pomp and pageantry was expected to provide a formidable alternative political force, particularly with Atiku’s influence as one of the state’s most prominent political figures and the leader of the coalition.
However, rather than consolidating opposition strength, the ADC quickly became mired in controversy, factional battles, and accusations of political domination.
The party has been plagued by parallel leadership structures, legal disputes, and bitterly contested ward, local government, and state congresses that sharply divided stakeholders.
These unresolved disputes created widening distrust among major political actors, many of whom accused the leadership of sidelining key stakeholders and manipulating party structures.
At the center of the storm were allegations that former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Engr. David Babachir Lawal, who was perceived as Atiku’s preferred political ally, exercised overwhelming control over the party’s machinery in Adamawa, allegedly running its affairs like personal political property.
This perception of favoritism and exclusion reportedly alienated influential figures such as Senator Binani, Senator Ishaku Abbo, Senator Ahmed Barata, and thousands of grassroots supporters who felt marginalized despite their contributions to the coalition’s growth.
Their eventual exit from the ADC marked a turning point in Adamawa politics, with Binani’s adoption of the NDC now emerging as a powerful rallying point for disenchanted politicians and supporters seeking justice, fairness, and inclusivity.
Speaking on behalf of the defectors in Jada, prominent Binani supporter, Alhaji Yusuf Bagal, said the decision to abandon Atiku’s political fold was borne out of frustration over injustice and exclusion.
According to him, the mass movement was a democratic rejection of oppression within the ADC.
“Our decision reflects our long-standing frustration over injustice, exclusion, and unfair treatment. We have the constitutional right as citizens to peacefully reject any political environment where our voices are suppressed, and today we have exercised that right,” Bagal declared.
